Communication-Efficient Distribution-Free Inference Over Networks

Consider a star network where each local node possesses a set of distribution-free test statistics that exhibit a symmetric distribution around zero when their corresponding null hypothesis is true. This paper investigates statistical inference problems in networks concerning the aggregation of this general type of statistics and global error rate control under communication constraints in various scenarios. The study proposes communication-efficient algorithms that are built on established non-parametric methods, such as the Wilcoxon and sign tests, as well as modern inference methods such as the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH) and Barber-Candes (BC) procedures, coupled with sampling and quantization operations. The proposed methods are evaluated through extensive simulation studies.Comment: Accepted to the Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers (2023

Semantic Communications in Networked Systems

We present our vision for a departure from the established way of architecting and assessing communication networks, by incorporating the semantics of information for communications and control in networked systems. We define semantics of information, not as the meaning of the messages, but as their significance, possibly within a real time constraint, relative to the purpose of the data exchange. We argue that research efforts must focus on laying the theoretical foundations of a redesign of the entire process of information generation, transmission and usage in unison by developing: advanced semantic metrics for communications and control systems; an optimal sampling theory combining signal sparsity and semantics, for real-time prediction, reconstruction and control under communication constraints and delays; semantic compressed sensing techniques for decision making and inference directly in the compressed domain; semantic-aware data generation, channel coding, feedback, multiple and random access schemes that reduce the volume of data and the energy consumption, increasing the number of supportable devices.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, 1500 word

Minimal data rate stabilization of nonlinear systems over networks with large delays

Control systems over networks with a finite data rate can be conveniently modeled as hybrid (impulsive) systems. For the class of nonlinear systems in feedfoward form, we design a hybrid controller which guarantees stability, in spite of the measurement noise due to the quantization, and of an arbitrarily large delay which affects the communication channel. The rate at which feedback packets are transmitted from the sensors to the actuators is shown to be arbitrarily close to the infimal one.Comment: 16 pages; references have now been adde